Background
Ethiopia is the second populous country in Africa with estimated population of 90 Million. Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia with projected population of 3.049 million by central statistics Agency (CSA) for the year 2012. Cancer is now becoming the major health problem in Ethiopia. The Addis Ababa cancer registry is the first population based cancer registry(AAPBCR) in the country was established in September 2011 at Radiotherapy Center, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, School of Medicine and Addis Ababa University. The registry is financially supported by the Federal German Ministry of Research and Education till March 2014 and from the American cancer Society (ACS) for the coming one year. The information gathered from the registry will be used for characterizing the burden of cancer in the city and for planning and monitoring cancer control activities in the country.
The overall registration is directed and guided by the head of radiotherapy center, Dr. Mathewos Assefa. The cancer registry activities run by 4 full time employees.
- Timotewos Genebo Reg. supervisor
- Solomon Asmare Data collecting statistician
- Bireda Wondatir Data collecting statistician
- Mrs. Ayalnesh Bekele Data encoder
Over 20 contact persons selected by their representing health institutions for the assistance of cancer registry (CR) and were trained for 3 days on cancer registration and data collection techniques by Mr. Eric Chokunonga from Zimbabwe. Continuous training of new contact person and supervision is carried out regularly by cancer registry staff. Additional technical support is provided by our close collaborators Dr. Eva Kantelhardt and Prof. Andreas Stang from Martin Luther University Halle (Saale) Germany and Dr Ahmedin Jemal from American Cancer Society (ACS).
Registration Population
Administratively the Addis Ababa City is divided into 10 sub cities (Addis Ketema, Akaki, Arada, Bole, Gulele, Lideta, Kirkos, Kolfekaranyo, Laphto and Yeka).
Sources of Information for the Registry
The main sources for population based cancer registry (PBCR) in Addis Ababa city are (1) Hospitals (Departments of Pathology, Haematology, paediatrics, gynaecology, surgery, Internal Medicine etc.) and Radiotherapy Centre, (2) Higher diagnostic Clinics and (3) Diagnostic Laboratory with pathology services.
Registration Criteria
A 6 months duration of stay as resident of Addis Ababa City is used as criteria in distinguishing the dwellers or the residence of the city from the temporal visitors.
Method of Registration
The Map of the sub cities designed by CSO is captured for the classification of cancer registry. All potential health institutions where most cancer cases are seen and pathology labs were identified in contacting appropriate recruited and trained persons at list for three days. The contact persons working in their respective institutions regularly register all new cases. Data collectors visit and supervise all sites regularly as scheduled. The major sources of information are collected in using the standard data formats for the cancer registries. Highest rate (54.7%) of the cancer registry are from Tikur Anbessa specialized Hospital. The rest from other 2 government and 14 private health institutions. The registry procdures done by using the attached simplified standard registration form (Annex I).
Data Management
The registry uses the Canreg5 system for data entry, data analysis and management.
Results
A total of 5701 cancer cases registered from September 2011 to August 2014. Among these 3820 (67%) were females and 1881 (33%) males. The incidence rates by age groups as portrayed in figure I showed the highest (38.4%) among age groups 30-49 years. The most commonly leading cancers among females were cancers of the breast (33%), Cervix uteri (17%) and Ovary (6%), while among males cancers of colorectal (19%), Leukemia (18%) and prostate (11%).
Contact information
Mathewos Assefa MD. FC Rad Onc (SA)
Head, Radiotherapy Center
Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital
School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Tel: +251-911-240621
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
AACCR Supervisor
Timotewos Genbo
Mob: +251-091163223
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Last update: October 2014